Go Into All the World (for your own sakes)

One of the great things that Jesus did, and that the Spirit made plain after He had gone to heaven, was that Jesus opened the way for all men, not just Israel. And the Spirit, first through the Apostles and then through those who believed because of their works, made it clear to men what Jesus had done for them. For it was not enough for Jesus to die, men must hear about it.

The plan of the enemy was to crucify Him, and then, in a little while, have the people forget Him, or that He be remembered as just another fanatic. But the enemy apparently reckoned without the power of the Holy Spirit, that is, He did not take that into consideration. No wonder the chief priests doubted whereunto this would grow, or what would happen next (Acts 5:24, 4:17), that it spread no further. But Praise God, it did spread. And as it spread, more and more light came, and power with it.

The glorious message that all men are equal in the sight of God was giving hope to those who had been regarded as castaways and was causing consternation in the ranks of those who had considered themselves God’s pets. So today. As some parts of the world are more favored than others, there is a danger that the truth that all men are equal in the sight of God will be forgotten, and those who have been blessed will forget that they are to carry the message to the less fortunate ones, and that it is the will of God that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

It may seem to many that we can either do this or not do this as we please. But there is a real penalty for not obeying the will of God in this matter. We see that, as we disregard the claims of others to the light which has meant so much to us, the very denying of it brings us into a frame of mind that is narrow and selfish. Naturally, we are not open to the blessings, which God sends to us, if we are willing to follow Him fully. Even as in many lives, there are places to which the light of the Spirit has never gone, because of the doors being shut deliberately in the Spirit’s face, so there are closed lands in the world to the gospel, many not because they may not be entered, but because servants of God have not taken it enough to heart to obey the command of Jesus, to go into all the world.

And we need not look for peace of mind or power with God or light on the word until we are heart and soul in the work of sending the Word to all men.

The reason many are barren today is that, on account of their unwillingness to pay the price of bearing the word of God to those who have it not, they have naturally been brought into a narrow frame of mind, then hardness, until they are of but little use to God at home.

The taking upon us of the responsibility, that has been given by Jesus, gives something that broadens us, humbles and teaches us things that we will not learn any other way. It also deepens us in God. There is no depth without it. There may be a lot of talk, but true depth does not come until we realize that there is really no difference, that we are honor bound to do our utmost to spread the Word to those who have it not. Then, as we spread the Word through the world, the Word will advance in our own hearts.

Much more depends on the missionary vision than we think. Because we have just one missionary service in the month is no gauge of the importance of the missionary vision.

The missionary vision is all important. And I believe we little realize how much depends upon it, our attitude, victory and many other things. God keep us true and help us to advance in our missionary zeal. Amen.